Minnesota Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison

(KNSI) — A Twin Cities man is heading to prison for more than 13 years after pleading guilty to being part of a major fentanyl trafficking operation that spread across Minnesota and nearby states.

Prosecutors say 25-year-old Cornell Montez Chandler, Jr. was at the center of a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, between August 2022 and December 2023, Chandler frequently flew from Minneapolis to Phoenix, where he bought the drug from suppliers. He then shipped the drugs back to Minnesota through the U.S. Postal Service, disguising the packages as birthday presents. The pills were hidden in stuffed animals, wrapped in plastic bags, and even surrounded by dog treats to throw off drug-sniffing dogs.

Chandler’s scheme unraveled in early 2023 when law enforcement in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties launched a joint investigation. Their efforts led to the seizure of six packages containing more than 30 kilograms of fentanyl pills. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.

Chandler pleaded guilty on June 18th to a single count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

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